Change

Change is possible. Patterns aren't forever. Small things make huge differences. Don't let age and the "always done it this way" creep in as an excuse. Have the life you want. Do the work. Start now. Nothing is set in stone but death. Do what you can to increase the length and quality of your life. 

Life Change

The danger of being an artist is that your identity gets wrapped up with your job. When you tell people "you're a musician", then you suddenly aren't doing it anymore for a living, that creates a deep sad hole. Though the craft of playing and writing songs is still in my body, to not present myself from the stage on a regular basis will be missed. I took a job that pays and provides for my family. I did what I needed to do late in life under the gun. Things seem so different now. I can't imagine weathering this change. I'm grateful for my job, but I grieve the loss of the few times that I ever felt whole as a person, when I was performing. Lost.

Singers and Musicians by David Ackert

"Singers and Musicians are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime.

Every day, they face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get real jobs, and their own fear that they'll never work again.

Every day, they have to ignore the possibility that the vision they have dedicated their lives to is a pipe dream.

With every note, they stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking criticism and judgment.

With every passing year, many of them watch as the other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the car, the family, the house, the nest egg.

Why?

Because musicians and singers are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that melody, that lyric, that chord, or that interpretation that will stir the audience's soul.

Singers and Musicians are beings who have tasted life's nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another's heart.

In that instant, they were as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes.”

- David Ackert, LA Times

Never to Late to Learn to Play Music

We now know that it's never to late to learn to play a musical instrument. In these modern times of 24/7 information, and YouTube. com instruction, there remains no more excuses. Start online and move to private instruction, but start. Pick an instrument and start. Ignore the reaction of others. Ignore your "i-can't-ness", grow your "I can" into "I will" into "I am". It will transform your consciousness of music from the audience to the stage, and enhance one of the greatest passions of your life.. music. Take the time, find the time. Don't go to the grave only a mere spectator. Even if you only learn one song, and only play it in private, the benefits to you will be great. Music is for everyone, not just the select few. Fall in love with it on a whole new level. Get your hands and feet involved, and feel the power it can bring to you, your world, your mind, your body. Nothing can enhance your life, brain, emotions, and sense of well being like the creative process. You CAN do it!
Yes YOU! ;-)

Have Hope in Ideas, not in Washington

All recent proposals and long term plans from both parties won't work. Why? Because the very nature of "work" itself has changed and commerce and communication and and and.. The elephant in the room is the obsolescence that technology has brought and the affect on the human work force. Name one aspect of life on earth that digital technology has not affected. We need less people to do more things, yet their are more people who need jobs. The world is changing and Washington isn't. Their will be another depression if we don't have a massive retraining and a mass refocusing on our current reality. The new job sector could easily be sustainability and energy programs that fix our problems all while mounting new business models and upgrading the country at the same time. What's happening is not Washington's fault, it's just the reality. We as a people have to change, Washington can't change fast enough and won't. We have to upgrade our infrastructure and power grid and this can all be done without Washington. We're paying more taxes for less services and war is the only way to keep the death merchants solvent. It's a bad situation. Neither Bush nor Obama have created these problems and this change in our world. Every industry is affected by the changes brought on by digital technology. The finger pointing toward Washington is misguided. Technocracy and solution- based ideas are out there and will emerge in the near future or we'll perish or collapse into civil war and abject poverty, an oligarchy. New solution-based thinking must emerge and new business models as a result. This can and will happen. My hope is in ideas, not in Washington.

"Not How Cheap, But How Good"

Excerpt from Elbert Hubbard's
"Little Journeys To the Homes of the Great"
Elbert Hubbard
Memorial Edition
Printed and made into a Book by The Roycrofters, who are in East Aurora, Erie County, New York
New York
1916

"There is a market for the best, and the surest way, we think, to get away from competition is to do your work a little better than the other fellow. Our motto is, "Not How Cheap, But How Good."
This is the richest country the world has ever known, far richer per capita than England—lending money to Europe. Once Americans were all shoddy—pioneers have to be, I'm told—but now only a part of us are shoddy. As men and women increase in culture and refinement, they want fewer things, and they want better things. The cheap article, I will admit, ministers to a certain grade of intellect; but if the man grows, there will come a time when, instead of a great many cheap and shoddy things, he will want a few good things. He will want things that symbol solidity, truth, genuineness and beauty."

Toward Human Viability

As a human being, I recognize that I am part of a species that has yet to prove its viability as a productive member of nature. Problems like global hunger, violence addiction, drug addiction, global warming, war, and other destructive realities, can never be solved utilizing the tenets of politics or religion only. As shown consistently throughout history, problems are solved by the solution-based ideas and philosophies of a few individuals who operate independently of thought systems and groupthink; humans who want to understand, know, and respect the mysterious natural world that spawned us; humans who want to learn from, become creative with, build upon, and improve upon our daily lives as well, all through invention and discovery. Through thoughtful and critical scientific method and processes, these inquisitive individuals continually learn, create, and find ways for our species to be a part OF nature, not apart FROM nature. All aspects of our lives have been helped by the technologies and discoveries of these unique and talented members of our species. Throughout history, every time that we have allowed the renaissance of thought to flourish, we all won, and we saw "all boats rise". That must continue, especially now. The true success of solution-based thinking requires no belief, no hope or faith, but ONLY true consistency of observation for what is already thankfully known; a thinking fueled by a burning and sensual curiosity, an imagination and hunger for the mystery that remains out there, and a yearning for what has yet to be discovered about our origin, our planet, the galaxies, and what it all means. This is the mission.. to continue to "boldly go" far beyond the human fantasies and stories of our darker arcane past. We have done it before and we can do it again.

Just me, my stories, my mind, and my banjo.

This weekend begins my journey as a solo artist for the first time in my career. Up until now, most everything I've done has been associated with band projects, which has been an amazing experience on many levels. However, I'm excited to share my songs, stories, and mind with live audiences of all kinds in different formats, as myself. Some shows will continue to be with musicians backing me, and some will be just me with various types of banjos. The Mosier Brothers will remain intact, but less active as I pursue this change. I have many exciting things that I am working on and some really progressive producers, promoters, and musicians helping me to reach my goals of making the world a better place by building sustainable and civil community through artistic collaboration and of course music, music, music.. Stay tuned for more details on my upcoming site.

"People have the music in their heart, and they have it in their feet. It makes them laugh and makes them cry, remembering to dream.
Remind us that the songs we play can bring a brighter day, the music is for the ones who hear it, and for the ones that play." - from the song "On My Way"

Pick Up The Fork in 2013!

More beauty this year: health, color, light, and variation. More output and rest; less input from sources that will never render better ways. Attuned to all five senses, be a part of nature, not apart from nature. Cleanse and purge your soul to the joyful noise of life's music. Let the music dust you off like a sonic broom, helping you celebrate each new day of your life. You're already on the train, now be on the train.. don't die while waiting blindly at the station. Nothing was ever "meant to be". It is IS, then it becomes WAS, it always happens.. When it changes, calmly move away with gratitude, looking ahead to what is next. Don't dwell at the scene, go to where life is NOW. NOW is the only place where life will ever be. The pie is not in the sky, it's right in front of you. Pick up the fork!

(Thanks to my editor Kelly Gilbert and friend Bill Zorn)

Life is Everything

Endings are beginnings and beginnings are endings. The life that is lived "in transition" IS life. No one arrives. There are no destinations. Conclusion is delusion, as the mind must remain open to all things and be focused on what is often overlooked as "the getting ready". You're already there; BE there. Look around. Look with an open heart and be grateful that you were born into a body and brain that can, in its own exceptional way, experience nature with all its love and mystery. Using as many senses as you possess, smell, taste, touch, see, and hear yourself and all the wonderful things that spawned your existence. Start with water, plants, food, gravity, dirt, air, and the great emotions that anticipate yet another day of life. Remain firmly and reverently aware that it will all end and change into something else someday, but also that this is only the start. Avoid distractions. Want what you already have. Life, in and of itself, is everything.

The Real America

America has always been, and always will be, represented and populated by more than one group or race of people. Since our inception, we have been a kind of "every-country" to the rest of the world. Our "melting pot" type culture fuels our democracy, keeping us from dipping down into the"third world" status. Some of our earliest founders, like Thomas Jefferson, loved other cultures, traveled the world, and wanted what was good from around the world to become a real part of their dream for America. Our diversity is our strength; E Pluribus Unum - "out of many, one".

Look around and be grateful, rather than resentful of our differences. America has always been about many types of people. It took ALL kinds of people and cultures to build our country, and it will take all kinds of people and cultures to move us into the future. We can look forward with pride, because of our rich history, art, and technology; always remembering that our freedom and diversity has made us the envy of the world on so many levels. We should be proud of the mixed fabric of our contingency, never afraid of it, letting liberty and justice actually be for all. If we don't, we could start witnessing the slow death of what made us who we really are as a country. Has our decline already started? We can always do better, and must, so that our children can live in a great country in the future that will remain a true leader in the world, a light, an example, the real America - Jeff Mosier

Old Lady to Young Lady - "the green thing"

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested
to the older woman that she should bring her own grocery
bags because plastic bags weren't good for the
environment.
The woman apologized and explained, "We didn't have this
green thing back in my earlier days."

The clerk responded, "That's our problem today.

Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."
She was right -- our generation didn't have the green
thing in its day.

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and
beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to
the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so
it could use the same bottles over and over. So they
really were recycled. But we didn't have the green
thing back in our day.

We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator
in every store and office building. We walked to the
grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower
machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But she was right....
We didn't have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby's diapers because we
didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a clothes line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts -- wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right.....

We didn't have the green thing back in our day.

Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not
a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the
size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen
the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, we
blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have
electric machines to do everything for us. When we
packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used
wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or
plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an
engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used
a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by
working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run
on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But she's right.......
We didn't have the green thing back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a
drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink
instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor
blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole
razor just because the blade got dull.
But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus, and kids
rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning
their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one
electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of
sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need
a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from
satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the
nearest pizza joint.

But isn't it sad the current generation laments how
wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have
the green thing back then?

Mistake Learning

One of the hardest dances in life, is learning how to face conflict. We learn more from those with whom we disagree, than from the pandering friends that applaud our every whim. We can only get better when we stop getting bitter in the face of the disapproval that comes with conflict. It's so hard not to fight against it. Embracing conflict means to see conflict as an opportunity to see ourselves and others more clearly, as we learn to face our foibles and the faults of others. Nothing feels better, in the long run, than actually learning from our mistakes. Conflict remains a part of life, and dealing with it makes all things better in the short run, and in the long run. Life is only as rich as our ability to face and deal with our conflict, because ultimately that is dealing with life as an adult, not as a child. As the old saying goes.. "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

Forget the Past (lyrics)

I wrote this song around 2000, in an attempt to remind myself that the music is not the music business. My band at the time Blueground Undergrass was tanking with internal conflict and this was my attempt to remind myself, and the band, about the live show and the power of music. It's also a statement on the existential aloneness of togetherness.

It appears on the album "Newground" which can only be found used online. Thanks Ian Brown for asking me for the lyrics. -JM


Forget the Past by Jeff Mosier

The old man and his band were all in tune.
They stepped right up and filled the room.
And the dancers as they slowly came around,
That ole' floor was solid ground.
As they danced away their troubles they could find their way.
They let the music do its magic while the whole band played.
In the sound they found the answers to their every wound.
Forget the past, then you'll hear your tune.

As the band played on the dancers closed their eyes.
As night went on they realized.
That the sound of the music takes away,
all the pain that tries its best to stay.
As they danced away their troubles they could find their way.
They let the music do its magic while the whole band played.
In the sound they found the answers to their every wound.
Forget the past, then you'll hear your tune.

Bridge
Life gets hard when the music goes away.
You've got to change the steps you're doing as the music plays.
Never let your feet stop movin' on that ole' dance floor.
When the music speaks, there's nothing more, nothing more.

Life gets hard when the music goes away.
You've got to change the steps you're doing as the music plays.
Never let your feet stop moving on that ole' dance floor.
Forget the past
Them you'll hear your tune
Forget the past now.
Forget the past.

Humans Not Being

“If all insects on Earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on Earth would end. If all human beings disappeared from the Earth, within 50 years all forms of life would flourish.” ―Biologist Jonas Salk

We're only viable to ourselves, not to the rest of nature. We've added heat, weight, toxins, and many other things we're not willing to face. We may have created god in order to make us feel better about ourselves. Maybe we're not a creation, but rather a mutation. Like spam with a plan, meat on a mission, running our mouth on delusional memory. No animal does to its members what we do to ours. If the planet's lucky we won't be here long. I'm being nice. :-)

Until we start facing ourselves, and our species-wide behavior, we have no hope of becoming any better. To start a discussion about human beings anywhere else is delusional, and most certainly a colossal waste of time. Stare at your dog and then stare in the mirror. Try to learn from your dog. You'll either see it or you won't. Surely we can and must get better.

Once and for All

St. Simons Island, Ga.. - today I start applying to my body all the things I know and understand cognitively about health, nutrition, and fitness. It will be hard, but it will be worth it. This story will hopefully inspire others.

NOT taking the "Silence Pledge"

A kind well-meaning musician friend of mine sent me this. Others have sent me similar notions on Facebook

TAKE THE PLEDGE - Everyone has opinions about their ideology. Everyone has deeply held beliefs.
But I pledge I will not clutter, inflame, nor waste bandwidth with political opinions that might cost me friendships until November 7th, 2012. So Sayeth I. I would rather hear about the wacky thing you churren or your cat or your dog or even your ferret did.
So Sayeth, I.

My response..

Hey man. My friends love me. My mild acquaintances can go if they will. Too much is at stake for me to remain totally silent on what is going on in our culture. Silence is the soil in which most of the world's greatest injustices have grown. I would rather be judged than be silent. Looking at my kids' future makes a difference in my attitude. Barack Obama does not scare me, Mitt Romney does. 

Love you man.

His response back.. "Love you Brother" - 


This is the way it should be. If you lose friends over politics, they're not real friends. All sides of the political spectrum need to stay engaged in this debate. This debate is what WE have as citizens, this is OUR part, and for US to exit the debate and abandon our mind to avoid mild conflict is not intelligent. I will respect any opinion when it's handled by the hands of a civilized person. I don't attack people personally, but I do, and will, continue to engage in policy debate because of policy's undeniable interconnectedness with life, our culture, the future of our country, and the natural world. I post plenty of non-political life-affirming things about my life, music, and my family. I think I'm more balanced than in the past, but to be silent on what's at stake in November would be dishonest of me. I have many who disagree with me, many ultraconservatives in my "friends" list, and even some Christian conservatives who pray every day for my hell-bound soul. ;-) I know that, and they know that I know that. However, we are still friends, and we continue in our ventures in life together. We should all have more tolerance for each other.

I can lay back, but I won't lay off, neither should you, no matter what your opinion may be. Humor helps, and so does the realization that we are all just trying to figure things out in the best way that we know how. Now that may just sound like a bunch of wimpish liberal baby food to those of you out there collecting guns for the coming Obama take-over revolution, but I mean it with all my heart. ;-) Peace is possible if we think it is.

Bass and Grass 2012 line-up announced!

If you've never been to Bass and Grass this is the year to start! We fish, philosophize, and sit around talking about music and life with friends while conducting low key jam sessions for all levels of playing ability; helping each other grow in our love for the craft of music. Even if you don't play, it a great time to listen to the jamming and the final concert of the weekend is always a great blow-out party! Mostly we have a great time playing music, jamming, talking, laughing, and eating amazing food on the Robinson's beautiful Green Bell Farm and award winning lunker bass lake in Perry Georgia.

Check out this year's line-up and get your tickets now! See flyer for details!! Help spread the word! Don't miss Bass and Grass 2012. See you there!!

Love That Music Still (for Red Yates)

Love that Music Still

Smile on his face, pep in his step
No one ever saw him frown one bit
You could hear him laugh from near and far
As he picked it on stage, or played it in his car

Not only could Red play that lonesome sound
He had played all kinds of music all around the town
But he never heard a note that could make him frown
Red loved that music so

Chorus

Cause we love that music still
We'll play til our time is nil.
Everyday we will gather round
With our friends who love that lonesome sound

We will play til our fingers bleed
You never know if it's your time to leave
So everyday let us gather round
With our friends who love that lonesome sound


Now here in the town we can hear him still
In the passing tones, of our jigs and reels
We hope he knows we can hear him play
In that land that is far away

Chorus

Cause we love that music still
We'll play til our time is nil.
Everyday we will gather round
With our friends who love that lonesome sound

We will play til our fingers bleed
We never know when it's our time to leave
Everyday we will gather round
With our friends who love that lonesome sound

(Written by Jeff Mosier on Sept. 30, 2004 for musician Red Yates shortly after his death.)

Life Realizations Learned Through Letting Go of Your Children

Throughout ones years of parenting, you go through one realization after another; you learn lessons about being human. This weekend I experienced watching my first child walk out into the world. She just went to college, which should be no big deal, but I found that as I watched her move in, it brought up all of the sadness I feel about where our country is at this time. I watched her and so many kids walk around with that sweet hopeful look on their face, yet I knew that they've all grown up in a warring world, a divided government, and a loss of faith in what made the country great. The Internet, though it has served as a great disseminator of information and facilitator of communication, has also served to make denial a whole lot harder to hold onto. This generation knows what is going on so much more than we did. They're smart and informed, yet often jaded and cynical. They sense the fear that's out there, and they know that things must change. They also know that people don't agree on the solutions. They're on their phones laughing, talking, texting, and anticipating so much. I feel sad to admit that I felt sad for them today, as I know they must wonder about the future.

I'm 53 now, but I try hard to remain young at heart and hopeful. The only thing I believe in is thought itself, the power of ideas, creativity, and the love of philosophy and wisdom all directed through the artful work of critical thinking. I think, I don't believe. The only real thing that comforted me today, when leaving my daughter, was that I felt sure that I had taught her to think, be safe, love herself and her body, and show empathy and love toward others.

In the back seat of the car, as we drove away, was her sweet, yet very sad boyfriend, who returns to Atlanta to finish his senior year in High School. Also in the backseat were her younger brother and sister, who had sad yet hopeful hearts that she would return home soon for a visit.

Most importantly, today I honestly experienced for the first time just a thimble-full of the sea of sadness that so many parents live for their children everyday. It made me sad to think of all those kids who war for our country as soldiers never to return, or who return never to be the same again- or those who die prematurely from disease, drug addiction, suicide, or kidnapping. But most of all, it made me sad to think of all the parents who love their children just as much as I do, yet will NEVER have the opportunity to give them an education, care for them and their body through health care, or provide a clean, safe, loving home environment where they can grow up to be secure, loving, and contributing members of a community. My wife works in youth detention and she sees first hand everyday what happens when kids aren't loved or nurtured. The breakdown of the family is a huge destructive scourge on our culture. May we as a nation find ways to rebuild, through love, the network that it takes as a culture to recognize, and support, people who need love, attention, help; a culture that reflects the values that we say we have on paper as a country. May we all try to lovingly fill in their blanks, recognizing that to help them will help all of us in the long run.

I felt blessed and sad today, all at the same time. I have everything. I hope I can do more for the remainder of my life to help others and present a more life affirming message of hope in my art. Saying goodbye temporarily to my daughter only helped me want to be a better person; desiring to see a country that places more value on the family, the community, health, peace, and an empathic desire to love and tolerate the differences between people; a better place for our children to be, to live, and to thrive towards making the world a better place, not only for humans, but for the rest of nature, and this great planet that spawned us.

J.M

(Below is the note that her mother and I sent today as we departed with tears in our eyes. This is for all of the parents out there who may be comforted in the fact of knowing that you're not alone.)

Dear Natalie,

You will now venture out on your own, live your life and have your own thoughts about life. As long as we're alive, mom and I will always be here for you and care for you no matter what. Today is hard because we hope that we've given you the love and guidance that you will need to live a happy and successful life. We hope that you will be in a healthy enough relationship with yourself to know what to embrace and what to avoid, what to draw closer to and what to move away from, and what is healthy for your body and what is draining of your life force. Knowing that no home is perfect, we hope that you will take what we gave you and improve on it for your life. Today is a hard and sad goodbye, mixed with the love of wanting all the happiness in the world for you. Today is a great day, one of gratitude, one filled with the amazing pride that we have in our hearts for who you have already become and the anticipation of the great times and laughs that we can all have together as adults throughout life. We will always be your mommy and daddy, but today is your day to take the roots and wings we have given you and to really fly.

One thing that mom and I can both say is that your birth brought more meaning to our lives than we had either one ever had before. You will understand this if you ever have children, and you will also know what today means. No words could ever describe how much we love you.

Mom and Dad